This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Author: TSO

  • My letter to the Editor that didn’t get published

    Not that I thought it would mind you, I was more writing for catharsis than anything else.

    It started when our Researcher Emeritus sent me this ridiculous Philly Inquirer story which is mascarading as a tongue bathing for Joshua Key (who valiently refuse to join an Army of Ro-Bots!). Anyway, go read the ridiculous article. Here is my unpublished letter of resopnse:

    Dear Editor:

    I noted with no small amount of interest your article regarding Joshua Key entitled “Canada has cooled its welcome for U.S. deserters” dated March 10. Tracking the various lies and distortions of Mr. Key and his friends has become a full time hobby for me of late. As an honorably discharged veteran of the War on Terror, having served as an Infantryman in Operation Enduring Freedom, stories such as those which Mr. Key and his ilk deal in do irreparable damage to the honor which we have rightly earned for our service, by sullying all that we did.

    Perhaps one of the reasons for his higher support among the masses of Canadians as opposed to the various tribunals hearing his claims is that anyone actually looking into the veracity of his stories comes away wanting. Take for instance this vignette found in his execrable fantasy “autobiography” which he entitled A Deserter’s Tale:

    My sergeant let loose with his .50 cal Machine Gun. Blasting away with bullets about 6 inches long, he shot the car and brought it to a halt. I saw a trail of gas leaking from the car. The sergeant shifted his gun, aimed at the trail of gas, and shot again. The line of gas caught fire, and flew back toward the truck, and when it hit the gas tank, the truck exploded in a ball of fire.

    Putting aside the fact that a .50 cal round is not 6 inches long, it is obvious from this story that Mr. Key either doesn’t watch MythBusters which specifically debunked this particular fable in Episode 88, or the laws of physics operate differently in his presence. Even were it possible to get the gas to catch fire, presumably from a tracer round, even then the story is impossible:

    Through small scale tests, the MythBusters discovered that gas burns at just over 3 miles per hour, which is as fast as a brisk walk. Next, they lit leaking gas trails from both a remote control car and a regular pickup, and the flame did not catch up to either. A car going at the low speed of 20 miles per hour could easily outrun the stream of fire. Finally, they let the gas catch up to the tank, and it did not explode. In order to create an explosion, the Mythbusters filled the tank with enough gasoline to get an ideal fuel/air mixture for combustion. Even so, they could not make the gas tank explode so this myth was completely busted.

    And yet this is just one story which I have encountered where the truth and Mr. Key were locked in a death match. Mr. Key’s other stories include a hospital in which baby fetuses were spread haphazardly across the floor, and another in which his fellow soldiers decapitated an Iraqi civilian in order to use his head as a soccer ball. Mr. Key does for the truth what cannibalism does for cuisine.

    I noted also that his wife Brandy has now left him to return to the United States with his Children. I get no pleasure from the dissolution of his marriage and being physically alienated from his kids, however, Mr. Key has cited his desire to remain with his children as one of the main reasons he should be granted a reprieve from being sent back to the United States to face possible incarceration. With that particular motivation now mooted by the departure of his family, I wonder what possible excuse he will manufacture now. If history is any judge, it will be no more accurate than the accounts which have preceded it.

  • BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Suxorz!!!!


    conan839 on February 23rd, 2009 6:03 pm
    I am a member of the IVAW. For obvious reasons, I choose to remain anonymous. For those of you who have questioned the authenticity of Matthis Chiroux, you are absolutely right. I’ve known Matthis for almost a year now. His words and actions behind the scenes speak for themselves. He cheats the public and lies. Hands of applause, please. This should be the next corrupt politician in line.

    The facts: Matthis Chiroux’s belief in the illegal war concept does not stem from any goodness, but simple fear of facing his duties. Whereas the rest of our IVAW members have been overseas, this kid dances in the light of being in Afghanistan for one week. Bravo. Nice job. Real war hero. His response to the anti-war cause did not occur anytime before his call to duty. In fact, his initial plan was to run off to Canada or to Europe. But you don’t hear this on TV, do you? Of course not. Because he’s a war hero. Next, as proven by several comments from people who know him, Matthis enlistment in the military had nothing to do with his social status, and much to do with the fact that he’s a royal fuckup. Now this is understandable. I too am a fuckup. But come on dude, fess the fuck up. Chicken shit. And stop making stupid remarks about the people who interview you, you smug fuck. Who do you think you are? God? Now here’s the real kicker, and maybe I’m writing this because I’m fumed. Maybe not. Matthis receives support and endowments from a generous public. Yet most of the time he spends sitting on his bony ass smoking up and talking about political situations that he probably just read about. Ask him any surprise question about a particular subject, and you’ll notice him either scramble for answers or sway from the topic. It’s really pretty fucking fascinating. He has the IQ of Forrest Gump but pulls off looking like he’s the Albert Einstein of world affairs.

    I have just one request to the people who fall for these antics: wake the hell up!

    That comment there is at the bottom. And it is only a very slight exaggeration to say it nearly gave me incontinence.

    I bet we see more of this sort of thing as people realize a retard hijacked the short-bus.

    Jonn added: Just to review what we’ve said here about Chiroux that seems supported by this supposed mole;
    Too many unanswered questions about Chiroux’ narrative

    Vets for Peace at the National Archives

    Chiroux’ tin cup

    The “drownding” of Matthis Chiroux

  • Who wants to do some research? (UPDATED)


    IVAW took their circus on the rode to Texas, and this guy had some….compelling (??) testimony:

    Rooster Romriell
    Branch of service: United States Army (USA)
    Unit: 1-41 ARmored and 1-8 Cav
    Rank: means nothing to free men
    Home: Texas
    Served in: Ft. Riley, Ks, Ft. Hood, TX, Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Abu Graib, Iraq.
    I learned to cherish the sanctity of life in the fires of war and came to my studies of Buddhism in Iraq. As an infantryman I saw the worst of the war and took it home on my shoulder. 1-41 was known for it’s murder scandals and I was the man who broke the case open, the one who stood against the evil of our own, regrettably it had to be done. Our nation is now falling to the ashes of Rome, fascist Germany, and the Persian empire. WE are weakened by our wealth and power, and this once great Babylonian fortress is set to collapse. Let’s set it free!

    Anyway, set your BS detectors to stun, and ponder his testimony.

    First beer is on me at the Milblog conference who can verify/demolish this guys tale of woe.

    Anytime a guy claims that he was the sole person standing for truth and justice, I imediately suspect a phony. I’m sure he served there, but his “I was the man who broke the case open, the one who stood against the evil of our own” translates into grunt speak as “listen to the mating call of the endangered Blue Falcon….”

    Have at it kids!

    UPDATE: Well, it would seem that most of this is truth, which I find rather shocking. I did note this one sentence in a WaPo article:

    An Army investigator described Romriell as the black sheep of his squad in part because he opposed the war in Iraq. The private has since been transferred to another unit for his safety.

    Young testified that Williams had said, “The first chance he gets, ‘I’m going to kill Romriell.’ “

    Black sheep or no, that’s pretty messed up.

    So, I’ll give this guy a temporary tip o’ the hat on this one. You do screwed up stuff, you do the time. Still can’t buy into the other 99% of IVAW stories, but this guy looks legit at first read.

    Jonn added: Well, the guy doesn’t get a complete pass. He says his unit is known for “murder scandals” as if the whole unit was complicit a widespread murder spree and cover up. There was ONE SCANDAL. The offender eventually pleaded guilty. Romriel continues in his IVAW profile like he personally brought down the “empire” by sliding a note under his CO’s door. If his commander decided to investigate the crime and prosecute the criminal, that should be sufficient evidence that our military isn’t the out-of-control murder machines Romriel tries to tell us it is.

    On top of all of that, Romriell calls the unit 1/41st Armor. It’s the 1/41st INFANTRY. If he wasn’t such an ate-up, pot smoking hippie, he’d remember that and be proud of it. In fact, he was in C Co. 1/41st – the same company COB6 and I were in together in Desert Storm. Romriell wore a Valorous Unit Citation over his right pocket that we earned for him. He could at least remember the branch he served in.

    And that drama queen answer about rank – that means he was probably a screw up and got out as an E-1 or E-2. He did an honorable and brave thing by turning in the murderer, but then he beclowned himself to make emo friends in the IVAW. Legit? Barely.

  • And my two emails to IAVA

    Back in September I got something from IAVA on an alleged effort by the GOP to disenfranchise service members in Ohio.  Does that strike you as absurd?  It sure struck me that way.  Here is an article about it:

    With one lawsuit pending in the Ohio Supreme Court regarding the first week of absentee voting, several voting-rights groups have filed a separate lawsuit in federal court over the same dispute.

    It involves the overlap between the start of absentee voting Tuesday and the Oct. 6 voter-registration deadline. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has directed that citizens can register and immediately cast an absentee ballot during that time.

    Republicans cried foul, saying that amounts to illegal “same-day” registration and voting, and that Ohio law requires citizens to be registered for at least 30 days before they are eligible to vote. That’s the basis of the Ohio Supreme Court lawsuit.

    But the federal lawsuit, filed late Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), 1Matters, Project Vote and two individual voters, argues that federal law says an “election” occurs when votes are tabulated, not when they are cast.

    Of course, by the time Paul got a hold of it, via the ACLU, the case was about service members:

    The brief points out that the consequences of this suit would not only impede absentee voters during the 7-day overlap period but “actually would threaten far more sweeping harms that would impact many first-time voters, both absentee and in-person, including significant numbers of military personnel and disabled veterans who depend on absentee voting.” “Ohioans have made tremendous sacrifices in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since September 11th more than 46,000 of the state’s sons and daughters have deployed,” said Rieckhoff. “We owe these and all servicemembers an absentee voting process that is fair, predictable, and clear.”

    But, I figured whatever, let Paul play his game. That is, right up until I got this sent to me:

    The patchwork problem of federal and state election regulations strikes again.

    Military ballots are being tossed in Fairfax Co, VA because of a “technicality.” Not a lot of them compared to the size of the electorate, but more than a few.

    The registrar of voters in a Democrat. He thinks it “stinks,” but the law is the law.

    Fairfax general registrar Rokey Suleman said Thursday that he has had to reject some of the ballots because of a Virginia law passed in 2002. That law — then called Senate Bill 113, sponsored by then state Sen. Bill Bolling — requires that when an overseas citizen wants to request an absentee ballot and cast a vote with the same paperwork, it requires not only a witness signature but also the current address of the witness.

    So I sent Paul an email asking when they were going to back up Fairfax County service members, like my guys, who were overseas at the time. He never even bothered to respond.

    Needless to say, because the ACLU and Paul’s buddies didn’t get involved, neither did IAVA.

    My second email was to tell him to take me off his fuggin dog and pony email list. I didn’t feel like being a tool for left wing causes when real veterans were being screwed over.

  • Help send Jonn and I to the IAVA heroes celebration

    Your donation wouldn’t be tax exempt, but you would have the knowledge of knowing you sent Jonn and I to Los Angeles to mingle with the likes of Cameron Diaz. We will promise to control our flatulence, and we will bring with us a list of disabled veterans who need jobs in Hollywood.

    I’ve already rented our tuxes.

    I figure we need 5 hundy for the tickets, about 3 for the Tuxes, and we need transport. We can stay in a homeless shelter there, and Jonn can do magic tricks for some extra throwing around money. All told, I figger we need like $1700. If I knew how to do picture things, this is where I would insert the empty thermometer thing showing y’all we have no money.

    UPDATE: My Internet Wife made me a graphic, and threw in a 1 spot!

    UPDATEx2: IF we don’t get enough money, I intend to act like this lady here.

    UPDATEx3: Please don’t really give us money for this event. We have no desire to attend it.

  • Supporting the troops, IAVA style!

    Those of us who served overseas during Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom come from all across the political and socio-economic spectrum. But, if there is one thing that binds all of us, besides our service in GWOT, it is certainly our ability and desire to plunk down $250 for an evening of cocktails to be enjoyed with noted Veterans advocates from Hollywood.

    IAVA’s West Coast Heroes Celebration
    This spring, please join us in honoring the nation’s newest generation of heroes and celebrating the successes of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). IAVA is holding the first annual West Coast Heroes Celebration on Thursday, April 30th, 2009. The cocktail reception will be held at the offices of Creative Artists Agency (2000 Avenue of the Stars) in Los Angeles, California from 7-9:00PM.

    We are excited to have Cameron Diaz, Nick Styne, and Norman Lear co-host this special evening.

    Ticket $250
    Sponsor $5,000
    Patron $10,000
    Benefactor $25,000
    Premiere Sponsor $50,000

    I mean, who among us could ever forget Ms. Diaz’s standing up for the veterans during the 2004 election when she said:

    Women have so much to lose. I mean, we could lose the right to our bodies. We could lo–if you think that rape should be legal, then don’t vote. But if you think that you have a right to your body, and you have a right to say what happens to you and fight off that danger of losing that, then you should vote.

    Well, that really had nothing to do with veterans actually, but I am sure she is spectacular on her caring.

    Since I didn’t know who Nick Styne was, I looked it up:

    High-powered motion picture talent agent Nick Styne is leaving International Creative Management after more than ten years. He’ll be joining the Creative Artists Agency and is reportedly taking major clients like Cameron Diaz, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair supermodel Heidi Klum with him.

    Man, I can TOTALLY see why OEF/OIF vets want to hang with him. I know when I came off the airplane on my return my first thought was “Shit! Where am I gonna get a talent agent now?” Because, if there is one thing a wounded vet without a job needs, it is a talent scout. Don’t believe me? Just run up to Walter Reed and ask for a show of hands on how many have their own, and I bet not a one of them does.

    And Norman Lear, man, that dude is Teh Awesome! Just a few weeks ago he was talking about how he supported the troops of this war, as he had ones in the past:

    But like any great film, and Stop-Loss is a great film, it can help the viewer to experience that “feeling,” if only fleetingly. Stop-Loss did that for me. I feel as never before for the men and women fighting it and for their families.

    During the Vietnam protest days there was an indelible photograph of a group of students lying on the track in front of a troop train. Where, I wonder, is my troop train?

    Dude, I am *SO* down with that logic. I truly am. I like the Red Sox, but until Jimmy Falon played a deranged lunatic member of Sox Nation, I never truly understood. It really does take a movie to make you understand and grasp the importance of an event you took part in, doesn’t it?

    (To his credit, at least Lear is a veteran of WWII)

    I just personally want to thank IAVA for doing this for all of us out here struggling with having $250 of expendable income that we can’t get rid of, and giving us the opportunity to meet the types of counsellors we need the most: ones who can get us into the movies.

    Here is one guy who gets it:

  • Hey World Can’t Wait….

    …….your website can’t wait to get paid.

    How dare you rob me of your truth telling?

    And Common Ills had a link to an excellent in depth story chalk full of BS about the DoD budget I wanted to lampoon.

    UPDATE: Yeay! Website back up…

  • Raising the ban on the Dover Photos

    By now you all have heard.  Would it surprise you to learn that the Gold Star Mom that started all this is with Code Pink?

    From CNN:

    One of the family members who favors lifting the ban is Karen Meredith of San Francisco, California, who wrote Obama urging him to order the change.

    Lt. Ken Ballard left for Iraq on Mother’s Day in 2003. He came home in a casket on Memorial Day 2004.

    “I wanted the nation to grieve with me, and if we don’t see those images we don’t know that these young men and women are dying,” she told CNN.

    “And to me its an honor to have an honor guard at Dover when they’re bringing these men and women back through the mortuary. But we’ve never been able to see those pictures of the honor being given.”

    From MetroActive:

    She’s become friendly with advocacy groups like the Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out and Code Pink. She was asked recently to appear at a counter-military recruitment event, but begged off because it took place on Mother’s Day (although she is quick to note that Mother’s Day started as an antiwar holiday).

    She recently participated at a gathering in Berkeley and also traveled to Arlington West, a project by the Santa Barbara Veterans for Peace to re-create the grave sites of soldiers killed in Iraq. Later this month, on Memorial Day, the anniversary of Ballard’s death, Meredith plans to return to Washington to again visit her son’s grave at Arlington.

    She also lived in the Crawford ditch with Cindy Sheehan. In an article about Fenton Communications, which ran the ditch bitch fiasco:

    Gold Star mother Karen Meredith came here from Mountain View. Her son Ken Ballard died last year.
    Karen Meredith, Gold Star mother: “Sometimes things don’t feel quite right to me. They don’t feel wrong, but maybe that’s how they do it in the marketing business.”
    ABC7’s Mark Matthews: “You feel you’re part of a marketing business?”
    Karen Meredith: “Possibly. Yeah I think so.”

    Here is her blog here. She can’t make it a full para on any given post without mentioning her loss. And everyone should know about her loss.

    Paul Rieckhoff thinks this is a swell idea as well:

    ““Less than 1% of the American population has served in Iraq or Afghanistan. There has never been a greater disconnect between those who serve in harms warm and those back home. All too often, the sacrifices of our military are hidden from view,” Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “The sight of flag-draped coffins is, and should be, a sobering reminder to all Americans of the ultimate sacrifice our troops have made and the high price of our freedom.”

    Other groups disagree:

    But a spokeswoman for a military family group expressed disappointment. “This is a complete disregard for the will of America’s military families and the need for their privacy during this solemn moment,” said Meghan Tisinger, spokeswoman for Families United.

    HERE IS THE LINK TO THAT IAVA STATEMENT.

    My Opinion:
    Had I died over there, my Dad would have made the decision (my mom died the day I joined the Army.) Now, I love my Dad, but we discuss 2 things, New England Sports Teams, and the weather in Maine. My Dad was a delegate for Ted Kennedy. To his credit, my Dad would NEVER openly say something about the War in front of me. And when I had a flag flown over Bagram on the day the Pats won the Super Bowl, my dad refused to fly it from the front porch, but instead went out and hired a guy to put a huge flag pole in the back yard. My Dad loves me, loves the country, but he’s a liberal, and he knows little about what I would have wanted. I would like to think he would have told them to screw off, but I don’t know. I sincerely hope that SRP from now on includes some sort of living will type document where the troop gets to voice his opinion on whether to be pictured or not. I also wonder what happens when one divorced parent supports, and one does not. Or the Mom and Dad want the pictures taken, and the Spouse does not. How do they iron that shit out?

    SHIT: I called and asked my dad. I shouldn’t have asked.

    MIlitary.com has a poll up:

    More on the Code Pink Gold Star Mom, from BOHICA 22.

    “There’s no one left to call me ‘Mom,’ ” Meredith told a teary-eyed congregation at First Unitarian Universalist Church in San Francisco on Sunday. “He left the day after Mother’s Day, and he said he’d make it up to me when he returned. Today is my third Mother’s Day that I will not pick up the phone and hear his voice.”

    And still more from the totally on fire BOHICA 22:


    Karen Meredith (center), who lost her only son in Iraq, hugs activist Pablo Paredes as Sean O’Neill, who served twice in Iraq, stands by at San Francisco’s First Unitarian Universalist Church. Chronicle photo by Brant Ward

    And who is Pablo Paredes? Per Michelle Malkin:

    Military deserter and anti-war Left poster boy Pablo Paredes has been denied conscientious objector status. His request for Other than Honorable discharge in lieu of a court-martial trial has also been denied.

    Unsurprisingly, O’Neill is with IVAW.